The 31-year-old is accused of a racially aggravated public order offence during his side's Premier League match at Loftus Road on October 23 last year.

Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle heard how Terry told Ferdinand to "f*** off" and called him a "f****** knobhead" as the players clashed.

It is claimed that Ferdinand said something about "shagging ya mate's missus" and made fist gestures, before Terry responded.

The court was told that Chelsea team-mates Ashley Cole and John Mikel Obi were nearby when insults were traded, but they will not be called as witnesses as part of the prosecution case.

Terry said in a statement to the Football Association five days after the incident that he and Ferdinand had been exchanging "verbals" and he had made a gesture to imply Ferdinand had bad breath.

He said: "We're still having a, sort of, ding-dong, if you like. That's when, as I said before, he said 'black c***'.

"Now clearly, as I said before, I don't think he's calling me a black c***, but at the same time I take quite a strong offence."

The former England captain said he was not offended by the taunts about the alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend, because "it's not the first time I've heard it, so it's with a pinch of salt a little bit now".

Earlier today, Anton's brother Rio sent a Twitter message to his younger sibling telling him "head high bruv".

Terry, who denies the charge, faces a maximum fine of £2,500 if convicted.